The GBB National Board met on October 24th and 25th. The meetings went well as always and there was a lot of information to process. I'm working with the Board Secretary, Mark Dull, to get the minutes compiled so the highlights can be posted on the web site. In addition to board minutes we'd like to add more information to our web page to make it more user-friendly for fellowship churches who are in search of a discipleship ministry for boys.
We're also working directly with SMM (the girls side of discipleship under Women of Grace, USA) on a video project. The purpose of the video is to promote our joint efforts to highlight the need for discipleship and gender-specific children's ministries. Our plan is to post the video on the web site when its all done so keep your eyes on the site for updates and additional information.
WE NEED YOUR HELP!
If you notice anything on the web site that is out of place or could be connected a little better, please shoot us an e-mail with your ideas. All ideas for improvement will certainly be considered.
Keep watching this blog and the web site for additional highlights and info from our fall board meetings!
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Monday, October 20, 2008
October's Missionary of the Month
Bob
in Chad, Africa
Bob grew up in Centerville, OH in a very close, Christian family who were members of the Centerville GBC. He is the youngest of 3 brothers. He accepted Christ at 10 years old, but really grew in Christ through High School. Bob was very involved in the ministries of the Centerville GBC. As he finished high school, he began his own property and landscape management company. He began college, with a focus in Safety Engineering.
During college God began to develop an interest in missions for Bob. He began to investigate the possibility of using his skills in missions for a year, wanting to assist the missionaries in practical ways while learning what a missionary does and how he lives. At the same time God was prompting these ideas in Bob's heart, GBIM leadership was praying for someone to assist the Puhls in the Chad. The ministries in the Chad had continued to grow, but at that time, the Puhls were the only missionaries there. They needed practical help in many areas so they could focus on the development and encouragement of the Chadian leaders. God answered those prayers when Bob was approved for a ministry in the Chad. His one-year commitment in 2002 turned into a calling for Bob. He is still in Chad, Africa today.
Bob sends these prayer requests.
"Pray that God will give the GBIM team in Chad much love, strength, and patience as they carry on the ministry there."
"Pray that God will use me to encourage others to join His mission field as I share with churches and supporters."
"Pray for God's direction in my life as I seek His will for my future."
For more information conact me at rgable1357@neo.rr.com. Each unit should have received the full e-mail report this week.
in Chad, Africa
Bob grew up in Centerville, OH in a very close, Christian family who were members of the Centerville GBC. He is the youngest of 3 brothers. He accepted Christ at 10 years old, but really grew in Christ through High School. Bob was very involved in the ministries of the Centerville GBC. As he finished high school, he began his own property and landscape management company. He began college, with a focus in Safety Engineering.
During college God began to develop an interest in missions for Bob. He began to investigate the possibility of using his skills in missions for a year, wanting to assist the missionaries in practical ways while learning what a missionary does and how he lives. At the same time God was prompting these ideas in Bob's heart, GBIM leadership was praying for someone to assist the Puhls in the Chad. The ministries in the Chad had continued to grow, but at that time, the Puhls were the only missionaries there. They needed practical help in many areas so they could focus on the development and encouragement of the Chadian leaders. God answered those prayers when Bob was approved for a ministry in the Chad. His one-year commitment in 2002 turned into a calling for Bob. He is still in Chad, Africa today.
Bob sends these prayer requests.
"Pray that God will give the GBIM team in Chad much love, strength, and patience as they carry on the ministry there."
"Pray that God will use me to encourage others to join His mission field as I share with churches and supporters."
"Pray for God's direction in my life as I seek His will for my future."
For more information conact me at rgable1357@neo.rr.com. Each unit should have received the full e-mail report this week.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Service
My lovely wife and I had dinner with a buddy of mine Saturday night. He was home on leave from Iraq in time to be with his mom in the final days leading up to the end of her long battle with cancer. His wife and three daughters were able to come up from Colorado to be with the family for the funeral but they had to go back to Colorado last weekend. Jon obviously was sad that his mom passed but he and his family took comfort in the fact that she was a Christian who lived a very godly life. I've said it before but times like these make you really glad you're a Christian. I can't imagine life without the comfort of God's Sovereignty and Salvation!
After dinner we visited a few friends my buddy hadn't seen in a long time. As we talked about old times (not necessarily better times but certainly fun times) I couldn't help but think about how much I appreciate him. Not because he's my friend and has been for more than 15 years, but because he and his family make sacrifices every day so that I can live my life the way I do. I get to go home each day to see my family. He only gets to come home if something bad happens or he gets leave. My wife has the pleasure of spending time with me almost every day (okay, the statement that it's a pleasure may be a stretch...) but military wives have to spend weeks and months doing everything on their own. Not only do they have to be mom AND dad to their kids, they don't have their best friend in the whole world - the one person who made a covenant to love them unconditionally for the rest of their life. Then I feel for the military personnel who return to a family that's been self-sufficient for so long. Working their way back into the family pattern has got to be a little stressful for everyone. I have so much respect for the men and women of our military - especially career military personnel. They need our prayers and support every day!
Thank you for your service Jon and we're praying for you, your family and your fellow soldiers! I love you man!
After dinner we visited a few friends my buddy hadn't seen in a long time. As we talked about old times (not necessarily better times but certainly fun times) I couldn't help but think about how much I appreciate him. Not because he's my friend and has been for more than 15 years, but because he and his family make sacrifices every day so that I can live my life the way I do. I get to go home each day to see my family. He only gets to come home if something bad happens or he gets leave. My wife has the pleasure of spending time with me almost every day (okay, the statement that it's a pleasure may be a stretch...) but military wives have to spend weeks and months doing everything on their own. Not only do they have to be mom AND dad to their kids, they don't have their best friend in the whole world - the one person who made a covenant to love them unconditionally for the rest of their life. Then I feel for the military personnel who return to a family that's been self-sufficient for so long. Working their way back into the family pattern has got to be a little stressful for everyone. I have so much respect for the men and women of our military - especially career military personnel. They need our prayers and support every day!
Thank you for your service Jon and we're praying for you, your family and your fellow soldiers! I love you man!
Monday, October 6, 2008
Ohio District Outpost
Well the Ohio District has put another great weekend in the books! Their Fall District Outpost Camp began Friday night with our host unit, Fremont, treating everyone with hot dogs, chili and chicken noodle soup as they arrived in camp. Thank you very much for the warm welcome guys! It was delicious!
After our leader's huddle it was nice to sit around the various camp fires and catch up with old friends while I made new ones. There's something about sitting around a camp fire with men and boys that just puts me in a good mood and makes me think spiritual thoughts.
Though it got really cold Friday night (I didn't have a thermometer but there was frost on the tent in the morning) I pulled on my stocking cap, snuggled down in my heavy sleeping bag and slept pretty good. The only hiccup in my otherwise peaceful sleep was at five o'clock in the morning when I had to go to the bathroom! It was one of those times where I looked at my watch and determined there was no way I was going to comfortably sleep until it was time to get up. So I moved as quietly as possible to the tent door and then woke my tent up with an arctic blast of cold air. When that cold air hit me my desire to go to the bathroom turned into an emergency! Don't worry, I made it... When I got back to my warm sleeping bag and drifted back to sleep I was reminded of why I love camping in October - cold nights = warm sleeping bags.
On Saturday Fremont had set up a nice, leisurely schedule with activities to keep the boys entertained. Among those activities were archery, fishing, fly-tying, Geo-caching and skills games. I sat in on a few of the classes and watched in wonder about how attentive the boys were to these men. I never get tired of seeing how hungry the boys are to hear from the men! They are begging for information and influence. I was reminded about the part in our philosophy of ministry called "demonstration." It means that we must not only teach our boys directly but we must understand that they learn as much by watching us as listening to our words.
That observation and thought came into play later that night at Council Fire as I listened to Chad Black's message to the boys about being fishers of men. As I listened to him speak and read the Bible I felt the Holy Spirit calling me to challenge the older boys. When the Council Fire was over I gathered the junior high and high school aged boys around the large camp fire, away from the younger boys, and we talked about their salvation, the Truth and the influences on them. Then I talked about how much of an influence they already have; about how much the younger boys are watching their every move and emulating the things they're doing. I challenged them to only display the godly character that they want to see in the younger boys around them. I love praying with our young men! The rest of the evening was spent talking with boys and men about GBB, their lives and sharing what has happened in my life.
I decided to play my evening differently Saturday night than Friday night. I remembered that 5 AM ice trip to the bathroom and made an effort to not drink much after dinner. It worked out and I slept from the time I hit the pillow until three minutes before my alarm was set to wake us up. Nice!
Sunday morning Chad Black challenged the boys to fulfill Christ's commandments to go into the world as he told them about his family's call to the Native Americans of Minnesota. He certainly displayed a heart for the Lord and we all prayed for Chad and his family as they prepare to head to a new mission field for them.
In all, we had 85 boys and 47 men attend the Ohio District GBB Fall Outpost Camp. I love that there are so many men committed to the lives of boys. I pray that even more men will come to realize the responsibility they have to "entrust to reliable men so they will be qualified to teach others also." If we don't continue to teach God's Word and model Christ and His godly character our families, GBB units, churches and our communities will continue to slowly become less and less Christlike. It breaks my heart to see how "entertain first" we've become as Christians.
Thank you GBB men for answering the call and opening your lives so that the GBB boys will someday be qualified to lead others as GODLY MEN!
After our leader's huddle it was nice to sit around the various camp fires and catch up with old friends while I made new ones. There's something about sitting around a camp fire with men and boys that just puts me in a good mood and makes me think spiritual thoughts.
Though it got really cold Friday night (I didn't have a thermometer but there was frost on the tent in the morning) I pulled on my stocking cap, snuggled down in my heavy sleeping bag and slept pretty good. The only hiccup in my otherwise peaceful sleep was at five o'clock in the morning when I had to go to the bathroom! It was one of those times where I looked at my watch and determined there was no way I was going to comfortably sleep until it was time to get up. So I moved as quietly as possible to the tent door and then woke my tent up with an arctic blast of cold air. When that cold air hit me my desire to go to the bathroom turned into an emergency! Don't worry, I made it... When I got back to my warm sleeping bag and drifted back to sleep I was reminded of why I love camping in October - cold nights = warm sleeping bags.
On Saturday Fremont had set up a nice, leisurely schedule with activities to keep the boys entertained. Among those activities were archery, fishing, fly-tying, Geo-caching and skills games. I sat in on a few of the classes and watched in wonder about how attentive the boys were to these men. I never get tired of seeing how hungry the boys are to hear from the men! They are begging for information and influence. I was reminded about the part in our philosophy of ministry called "demonstration." It means that we must not only teach our boys directly but we must understand that they learn as much by watching us as listening to our words.
That observation and thought came into play later that night at Council Fire as I listened to Chad Black's message to the boys about being fishers of men. As I listened to him speak and read the Bible I felt the Holy Spirit calling me to challenge the older boys. When the Council Fire was over I gathered the junior high and high school aged boys around the large camp fire, away from the younger boys, and we talked about their salvation, the Truth and the influences on them. Then I talked about how much of an influence they already have; about how much the younger boys are watching their every move and emulating the things they're doing. I challenged them to only display the godly character that they want to see in the younger boys around them. I love praying with our young men! The rest of the evening was spent talking with boys and men about GBB, their lives and sharing what has happened in my life.
I decided to play my evening differently Saturday night than Friday night. I remembered that 5 AM ice trip to the bathroom and made an effort to not drink much after dinner. It worked out and I slept from the time I hit the pillow until three minutes before my alarm was set to wake us up. Nice!
Sunday morning Chad Black challenged the boys to fulfill Christ's commandments to go into the world as he told them about his family's call to the Native Americans of Minnesota. He certainly displayed a heart for the Lord and we all prayed for Chad and his family as they prepare to head to a new mission field for them.
In all, we had 85 boys and 47 men attend the Ohio District GBB Fall Outpost Camp. I love that there are so many men committed to the lives of boys. I pray that even more men will come to realize the responsibility they have to "entrust to reliable men so they will be qualified to teach others also." If we don't continue to teach God's Word and model Christ and His godly character our families, GBB units, churches and our communities will continue to slowly become less and less Christlike. It breaks my heart to see how "entertain first" we've become as Christians.
Thank you GBB men for answering the call and opening your lives so that the GBB boys will someday be qualified to lead others as GODLY MEN!
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
What are we doing here anyway?
So this week has been crazy busy! Isn't it interesting that as Christians, when things seem completely out of hand, all we have to do is remember God's sovereignty and welcome the calming effect He has over us?
This week I have been overwhelmed at work, at home and in ministry. I have felt as though I have no time for myself and not enough time for everything else. Each responsibility in my life this week seems to push on all the others and I feel like I'm spinning my wheels.
I tell you all of this to make this point: No matter how much Satan tries to put it in my head that I'm not good enough or that I don't have enough time - Christ jumps between us and absorbs the arrows. The armor of God is awesome! Simply KNOWING that everything that happens to me is part of His plan and that no matter how bad things seem at times GOD approved it all is so very calming. It is for HIS purpose that I am here, doing what he assigns through the Holy Spirit. Simply remembering those couple of things takes so much weight off of my shoulders.
Thank you for the reminder Lord!
This week I have been overwhelmed at work, at home and in ministry. I have felt as though I have no time for myself and not enough time for everything else. Each responsibility in my life this week seems to push on all the others and I feel like I'm spinning my wheels.
I tell you all of this to make this point: No matter how much Satan tries to put it in my head that I'm not good enough or that I don't have enough time - Christ jumps between us and absorbs the arrows. The armor of God is awesome! Simply KNOWING that everything that happens to me is part of His plan and that no matter how bad things seem at times GOD approved it all is so very calming. It is for HIS purpose that I am here, doing what he assigns through the Holy Spirit. Simply remembering those couple of things takes so much weight off of my shoulders.
Thank you for the reminder Lord!
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